Apparatus for closing the open ends of cylindrical bodies



Jan. 31, 1967 F. A. CULP 3,301,208

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS OF CYLINDHICAL BODIES Filed June 9,1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTOR FRED A.Quu=

F. A. CULP Jan. 31, 1967 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS OFCYLINDRICAL BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1964 INVENTOR. 11:(gum? F. A. CULP I APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN. ENDS OF CYLINDREECALBODIES Filed June 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. A. CULP Jan. 31, 1967APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE OPEN ENDS OF CYLINDRICAL BODIES Filed June 9,1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FQED A. CuLP United States Patent Oflice3,361,268 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 3,301,208 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THEOPEN ENDS F CYLINDRICAL BODIES Fred A. Culp, Leavittsburg, Ohio,assignor to The Ohio Corrugating Company, Warren, Ohio Filed June 9,1964-, Ser. No. 373,721 7 Claims. (Cl. 113114) The present inventionrelates to apparatus for closing the open ends of cylindrical bodies,more particularly to apparatus for depositing closure members on theopen ends of cylindrical bodies, and the principal object of theinvention is to provide new and improved apparatus of the characterdescribed.

In the manufacture of certain sheet metal cans, a tubular can body isformed with a radially outwardly extending marginal flange. A closuremember, for example, the can bottom, provided with a radially inwardlyextending marginal flange, is then assembled with the can body so thatthe respective flanges overlap. Finally, the closure member and can bodyflanges are folded together to provide a permanent, leak-proof seam.

In the past, considerable difficulty has attended the disposition of theclosure member on the can body prior to the seaming operation. Thisresults in part because of the necessary close tolerance between theoutside diameter of the can flange and the inside diameter of theclosure flange, in part because the closure member has a centraldepressed portion which closely fits within the can body, and in partbecause of high production speeds.

The present invention provides for the disposition of closure members onthe open ends of can bodies with unfailing accuracy and at high speedwith no attention other than to make certain of a continuing supply ofcan bodies and closure members. These and other advantages will readilybecome apparent from a study of the following description and from thedrawings appended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application there is shown, for

purpose of illustration, an embodiment which the invention may assume,and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, broken, enlarged, vertically separated,sectional view of the two parts Whose assembly is contemplated by thepresent invention,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but with the two parts inassembled relation,

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional view ofcooperating portions of the parts seen in FIG- URES 2 and 3, butillustrating the positions of the parts at various stages of assemblywith each other,

FIGURE 5 is a broken, fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1 but to alarger scale for greater clarity of detail,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the apparatus seen in FIGURE5,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to theline 77 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of a detail,

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the detail seen in FIGURE 8 andillustrating one of its functions,

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view generally corresponding to the line1010 of FIGURE 9, and

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing the illustrateddetail in another position.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the reference character 10 illustrates agenerally horizontal conveyor which transports tubular bodies B inupstanding, laterally spaced relation in the direction of the arrow.Such conveyor may carry lugs 10.1 which engage respective bodies toinsure against slippage between the conveyor and the bodies. Duringmovement of the bodies B along the conveyor, closure members C aredeposited on the upper open ends of successive bodies by apparatus 11,and the bodies with closure members thereon are then conveyed tosuitable apparatus (not shown since it forms no part of the presentinvention) which secures each body and its closure mem ber together influidtight relation} Although not shown, apparatus 11 will be supportedabove the conveyor 10 by any suitable supporting structure.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, each tubular body B is herein shownformed of sheet metal and provides at its upper end a radially outwardlyprojecting marginal flange 12. Each closure member C has a depressedportion 13 for closely fitting within the open upper end of the body B,a radially outwardly extending peripheral portion 14, and an underlying,radially inwardly extending marginal flange 15. At assembly and asillustrated in FIGURE 3, flange 15 of the closure member C underlies thebody flange 12.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, there is fragmentarily illustrated variousstages presently employed in the disposition of a closure member B on atubular body B. As seen in full lines in FIGURE 4, the closure member Cis initially supported at an angle to the path of body travel with theperiphery of the closure member intersecting such path. The arrangementis such that with the body moving from its full line position to theright, the body flange 12 will pass beneath the depressed portion 13 ofthe closure member and engage the closure member flange 15. Continuedmovement of the body to the right from the first phantom line positionof the body will draw the closure member C along with it, see the twophantom line positions on the right, until the closure member is finallyseated on the body member as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The apparatus 11 presently employed to carry out the foregoing assemblyoperation will next be described with reference first to FIGURES 5 and7. Briefly, apparatus 11 comprises a hopper portion for supporting aplurality of closure members C in superposed relation and a slideportion for guiding gravitational movement of a closure member from thehopper to a discharge station whereat it is supported for engagementwith a moving body C as previously described. The hopper portion ofapparatus 11 comprises a lower plate 16 and an upper plate 17 held inspaced-apart relation by tie bolts-spacer members 18. Although notshown, plate 16 is apertured to allow for the passage therethrough, andin fiat-wise relation, of the closure member C; such members, however,normally being retained against falling through the plate aperture bymeans later to be described. Secured to the underside of plate 16 andmore or less directly beneath the stacked closure members C is a slide19 having an inclined floor 20 and opposed sides 21.

Pivotally attached to the lower part of slide 19 by means of a hinge 22is a slide 23 having an inclined floor 24 and opposed sides 25. As willbe evident, slide 23 forms a continuation of slide 19; albeit at agreater angle than the latter. A yoke 26 extends between the two slidesides 25 and is secured to an extension 16.1 of the plate 16 by means ofan adjusting screw and nut assembly 27. This arrangement provides formovement of the slide 23 about the hinge 22 to permit adjustment of thevertical height of the lower end of the slide and also adjustment ofslide angularity. With the construction thus far described, it will beunderstood that when a closure member C is released from the hoppersection, it will fall on to the down the latter.

Means are provided to arrest movement of a closure member C at adischarge position at the lower end of slide 23 and for this purpose, apair of circular abutments 28 are secured in spaced relation to theslide floor 24 adjacent its lower end (see especially FIGURE 7). With aclosure member positioned in engagement with the abutments 28, theclosure member projects beyond the slide member floor 24, asillustrated, for projection into the path of a moving body as previouslydescribed.

Since a closure member is moving rather rapidly when it engages theabutments 28, means are provided to insure that such member will notjump over the abutments. For this purpose, an arm 29 is pivoted to eachside wall 25 at 30 and extending between the free ends of such arms isan elongated, pivotally supported roller 31 which engages the uppersurface of the closure member. Additionally, each arm 29 rotatablycarries a relatively narrow but larger diameter roller 32 which alsobears against the upper surface of the closure member. Arms 29 areconnected together for unitary movement about their pivots 30 by meansof an overlying bar 33 and a weight 34 is secured to the bar foryieldably biasing the arms 29 and thus their rolls 31, 32 toward theclosure member. For a purpose later to appear, a limit switch 35 (FIG-URE is secured to a side wall 25 with the actuator thereof engaged withits adjoining arm 29.

With a closure member C supported by the slide 23 at its illustrateddischarge position, movement of a body B to the right will engage theclosure member as previously described. Following engagement of theclosure member by the body, subsequent body movement will first releasethe closure member from the slide and then draw the closure member alongwith the body. Release of the closure member from the slide 23 will takeplace when the closure member end engaged with the body has been movedto the right an amount sufficient for the closure member to clear theabutments 28. Closure member C, in moving to clear the abutments 28 willraise the rollers 31, 32 by rotating the arms 29 about their pivots.

v Since the weight-biased rollers 31, 32 impede initial movement of theclosure member along with the body, there would be a tendency for thelatter to tilt on the conveyor. Such tilting, however, is resisted by anelongated roller 36 (FIGURE 5) on the underside of the slide 23, whichengages the top of thebody during its initial engagement with theclosure member. While roller 36 may merely be an idler which rotatesonly as a result of engagement of the moving body B therewith, it ispreferable to rotate the roller 36 at a peripheralspeed approximatingthe speed of body movement by means of a suitable motor 36.1. Also, toinsure against marring the body, roller 36 may be covered with rubber orthe like.

As earlier mentioned, means are provided for selectively releasing aclosure member C from the hopper section of the apparatus to the slides19 and 23 and as herein disclosed, three upright cam shafts 37 arerotatably carried .by the plates 16, 17 in evenly spaced relation aboutthe stacked closure members.

As best seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, each cam shaft 37 has an enlargement atits lower end providing verticallyspaced, lower and upper radiallyoutwardly extending shoulders 38, .39, respectively. Shoulders 38, 39have circumferentially spaced, cut-away portions 38.1 and 39.1,respectively, and shoulder 39 is tapered as shown for a purpose toappear. As best seen FIGURES 9, and 11, the relationship of theshoulders on each shaft 37 is such that were such shoulders .not cutawayas shown, they would at all times underlie and support the stackedclosure members. I

.In the normal position of parts seen in FIGURES 9 and 10, it will benoted that the shoulder cutout 39.1 is adjacent the stacked closuremembers so as not to interfere with free gravitation thereof;liowever,shoulder cutout 38.1 is toone side of the stack so that the shoulder 38underlies and supports the latter. All three of the shafts 37, it willbe understood, will be oriented in the same manner. It now each of theshafts 37 are rotated in the direction of the arrow from the positionseen in FIGURE 10 to the position seen in FIGURE 11, the shoulder cutout38.1 will be disposed adjacent the stacked closure members therebyallowing the lowermost of such members to drop down to the slide 19. Theremaining closure members, however, will not fall because the shouldercutout 39.1 is to one side of the stack so that the shoulder 39 at thistime supports the latter. Thus, rotation of the shafts 37 .to theposition seen in FIGURE 11 will release only the lowermost closuremember of the stack.

When the shafts 37 are rotated in the direction of the arrow from theposition seen in FIGURE 11 to that seen in FIGURE 10, the shoulder 39will be withdrawn from beneath the stack while shoulder 38 will be onceagain positioned therebeneath. The entire stack of closure mem bers willthus drop until such stack is once again supported by the shoulder 38 toawait the next release cycle.

As above described, shoulder 39 supports all but the lowermost, stackedclosure members; however, such shoulder also serves another function:Certain types of closure members, when stacked one above the other, nesttogether so firmly that considerable force is required to separate them.Under such circumstances, merely withdrawing the shoulder 38 frombeneath the lowermost closure member might not permit it to movedownwardly. In such an event, the tapered shoulder 39, during rotationof shaft 37 from the position seen in FIGURE 10 to that seen in FIGURE11, will force itself between the lowermost closure member and the onenext above and by a wedging action will pry them apart to thus insuredropping of the lowermost closure member at the appropriate time.

As best seen in FIGURE 6, the means for effecting rotation aforesaid ofthe shafts 37 comprises a rotatably mounted disk 40 on top of the plate17 and having three radially outwardly extending legs 40.1. Each leg40.1 carries a roller 41 received in a groove formed in the underside ofan arm 42 attached to respective shafts 37. A bracket 43 connects thedisk 40 to the piston rod 44 of a fluid cylinder 45, and a leg 46 iscarried by the disk for abutment with stops 4-7, 48 on the plate 17 tolimit disk rotation.

In the position of parts shown, piston rod 44 is retracted thuspositioning the disk leg 46 in engagement with the stop 47 to thusmaintain the shafts 37 in the position seen in FIGURES 9 and 10. Whenpiston rod 44 is extended to rotate disk 40 clockwise until its leg 46engages the abutment 48, the shafts 37 will be rotated in a clockwisedirection to the position seen in FIGURE 11. Retraction of the pistonrod will, of course, return the parts to the position seen in FIGURES 6,9 and 10.

As previously mentioned, each time a closure member is drawn from itsdischarge position on the slide 23, the

arms 29 will be elevated. This will actuate the limit switch 35 and,through a suitable solenoid valve (not shown), will cause extension andthen retraction of the piston rod 44 of cylinder 45. In the mannerhereinabove described, this cycle of operation of the piston rod willpermit the lower-most closure member in the stack to gravitate down theslides 19, 23 to its discharge position in engagement with the abutments28 to await the arrival of the next tubular body.

To insure that a closure member C is properly seated on each body B asthe latter moves beyond the member depositing apparatus 11 and withreference to FIGURE 1, a fluid cylinder 49 is suitably supported inupright relation to the right of the apparatus 11. The depending pistonrod 50 of cylinder 49 carries a roller 51 which, in the normal positionshown, is spaced above the path of body travel.

As a body moves beyond the apparatus 11 and under the cylinder 49, thelatter will be actuated by any suitable means to extend its piston rod50 to forceably cause the roller 51 to bear upon the closure member onthe body. In the event the closure member is not fully in place, thedownward force exerted by the cylinder will positively seat the closuremember. As the body moves from beneath the cylinder, the piston rodthereof will once again be retracted to await arrival of the next body.

In the event a body B has passed beyond the apparatus 11 and has arrivedat the cylinder 49 without a closure member C having been depositedthereon, as for example, if the stack of closure members has beenexhausted, downward movement of the piston rod 50 of the cylinder 49will not be arrested by engagement of the roller 51 with the closuremember. This will result in a greater than normal downward movement ofthe piston rod. Such greater than normal downward movement will bedetected by a limit switch 52 whose actuator will be engaged by anabutment 53 carried by the piston rod. Actuation of the limit switch 52may be utilized to sound a warning, to shut down the conveyor 19, and/orto terminate operation of succeeding or preceding line apparatus notherein shown.

While reference is herein made to cylindrical bodies, it is to beunderstood that this term is used in a broad sense to include bodieshaving a generally tubular form and which may have one or both endsopen.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat I have accomplished at least the principal object of my inventionand it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that theembodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified,without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specificallydescribed; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limitedthereto.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for depositing closure member on the open upper ends ofsuccessive upright cylindrical bodies moving generally horizontallyalong a predetermined path of travel wherein each closure member hasopposed peripheral portions and wherein one of such portions is spacedfrom the other in a direction opposite that of body movement, thecombination comprising a hopper supporting a plurality of closuremembers in superposed relation above said body travel path, a dischargestation beneath said hopper and supporting a single closure memberadjacent said body travel path, said single closure member beingsupported at said discharge station at an angle to the path of bodytravel with its one peripheral portion aforesaid spaced above the travelpath of said bodies to avoid interference therewith and with its otherperipheral portion aforesaid intersecting said body travel path toprovide for engagement of such portion with a body upper end andsubsequent movement of said single closure member along with a said bodyas the latter moves along its travel path, and means engageable with theupper ends of successive bodies during at least initial engagementthereof with respective closure members to limit tilting of said bodiesas the latter move past said discharge staiton.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a roller is provided adjacentsaid discharge station for closely overlying said moving bodies, andwherein said roller is positioned for engagement with the upper ends ofsuccessive bodies to limit tilting thereof from their upright positionsupon initial body engagement with a closure member at said dischargestation.

3. In apparatus for depositing closure members on the open, upper endsof successive upright cylindrical bodies moving generally horizontallyalong a predetermined path of travel wherein each closure member hasopposed peripheral portions and wherein one of such portions is spacedfrom the other in a direction opposite that of body movement, thecombination comprising a hopper supporting a plurality of closuremembers in vertically stacked relation above said body travel path,release means having a cycle of operation which releases the lowermostclosure member from said hopper, a slide underlying said hopper forguiding gravitational movement of a closure member released therefrom,fixed abutment means at the lower end of said slide and interruptinggravitational movement of a closure member and supporting the latteradjacent said body travel path at an angle thereto and with one closuremember peripheral portion aforesaid spaced above the body travel path toavoid interference therewith and with its other peripheral portionaforesaid intersecting said body travel path to provide for engagementof such portion with the upper end of said body as the latter movesalong its travel path, engagement of said moving body with said closuremember and consequent movement of the latter with such body withdrawingsaid closure member from engagement with said abutment means, and meansresponsive to movement of a closure member away from said abutment meansfor initiating an operational cycle aforesaid of said release means.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein said means lastrnentionedcomprises an arm yieldably biasing a closure member to engagement withsaid abutment means.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein said release neans comprises aplurality of rotatably mounted release members spaced circumferentiallyabout said superposed closure members in said hopper, wherein eachrelease member has a first abutment normally engaged beneath thelowermost of said closure members in said hopper and a second abutmentspaced circumferencially above said first abutment, and wherein meanssimultaneously rotates said release members through a cycle of operationwhich first moves the second abutments thereof beneath the next tolowermost closure member in said hopper to support all of the overlyingclosure members, which then moves the first abutments of said releasemembers from beneath said lowermost closure member to release the latterfrom said hopper, and which thereafter returns said first release memberabutments to position underlying the now lowermost closure member insaid hopper and said second release member abutments to one side of theclosure members in said hopper to provide for gravitation of saidsuperposed closure members to rest upon said first release memberabutments.

6. The construction of claim 3 wherein the lower end of said slide isvertically adjustable to accommodate bodies of varying heights.

7. The construction of claim 6 wherein said slide has pivot connectionwith said hopper to provide the vertical adjustment aforesaid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,900 5/1933Tevander 1131 14 2,053,763 9/1936 Brinton 113-114 2,304,437 12/1942 Bell1131 14 RICHARD L. HERBST, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING CLOSURE MEMBER ON THE OPEN UPPER ENDS OFSUCCESSIVE UPRIGHT CYLINDRICAL BODIES MOVING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLYALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH OF TRAVEL WHEREIN EACH CLOSURE MEMBER HASOPPOSED PERIPHERAL PORTIONS AND WHEREIN ONE OF SUCH PORTIONS IS SPACEDFROM THE OTHER INA DIRECTION OPPOSITE THAT OF BODY MOVEMENT, THECOMBINATION COMPRISING A HOPPER SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF CLOSUREMEMBERS IN SUPERPOSED RELATION ABOVE SAID BODY TRAVEL PATH, A DISCHARGESTATION BENEATH SAID HOOPER AND SUPPORTING A SINGLE MEMBERS ADJACENTSAID BODY TRAVEL PATH, SAID SINGLE CLOSURE MEMBER BEING SUPPORTED ATSAID DISCHARGE STATION AT AN ANGLE TO THE PATH OF BODY TRAVEL WITH ITSONE PERIPHERAL PORTION AFORESAID SPACED ABOVE THE TRAVEL PATH OF SAIDBODIES TO AVOID U INTERFERENCE THEREWITH AND WITH ITS OTHER PERIPHERALPORTION AFORESAID INTERSECTING SAID BODY TRAVLE PATH TO PROVIDE FORENGAGEMENT OF SUCH PORTION WITH A BODY UPPER END AND SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTOF SAID SINGLE CLOSURE MEMBER ALONG WITH A SAID BODY AS THE LATTER MOVESALONG ITS TRAVEL PATH, AND MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE UPPER ENDS OFSUCCESSIVE BODIES DURING AT LEAST INITIAL ENGAGEMENT THEREOF WITHRESPECTIVE CLOSURE MEMBERS TO LIMIT TILTING OF SAID BODIES AS THE LATTERMOVE PAST SAID DISCHARGE STATION.